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Fruit Attraction 2025: A Landmark Event for the Global Agricultural Sector

The recent Fruit Attraction 2025, held from October 6 to 8 in Madrid, organized by IFEMA MADRID and FEPEX, marked a significant milestone in the world of agriculture. This 17th edition closed with a staggering attendance of 121,137 professionals from 152 countries, reflecting a 3% increase in total participants and a 5% rise in international representation compared to the previous year.

The event not only highlighted Spain’s dominant presence in the agricultural sector, with regions like Andalusia, Valencia, Murcia, and Catalonia featuring prominently, but it also attracted professionals from across the globe. A significant 49% of visitors hailed from international markets, up 7% from 2024, including noteworthy attendances from countries such as Italy, France, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, alongside representatives from Peru, Chile, Brazil, and South Africa.

On an exhibition scale, Fruit Attraction 2025 set historical benchmarks with 2,485 exhibiting companies from 64 countries utilizing a net exhibition space of 78,212 square meters. This represented an 11% increase in exhibition area and a 13% rise in the number of exhibitors compared to last year, highlighting the event's expanding influence in the agricultural industry.

International Buyers Program

A key feature of the exhibition was the International Buyers Program which successfully facilitated connections between 600 major buyers, retail purchasing managers, importers, and wholesalers from 58 countries. The program emphasized international collaboration and has increasingly spotlighted Malaysia and Mexico as key player countries this year.

In addition to traditional exhibits, the event also hosted a series of technical sessions and a comprehensive congress program that gathered over 3,200 participants. The 95 sessions discussed essential topics ranging from innovation and sustainability to logistics and fruit and vegetable technology, emphasizing the current trends in the agricultural sector.

Celebrating the Tomato

Among the featured products, the tomato was recognized as the star product of this year's event, celebrated for its culinary, nutritional, and cultural significance. This recognition further cements the tomato’s symbolic status of excellence and sustainability in Spanish horticulture.

Collaborative Meetings and Industry Recognition

The event also served as a platform for numerous industry meetings, including the Joint Committee on Fruits and Vegetables of France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. Representatives from producer and trade associations, along with government officials, convened to discuss crucial outcomes and demands for various crops, including tomatoes, strawberries, garlic, peaches, pears, citrus fruits, table grapes, and others, in the context of the upcoming Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

In the spirit of innovation, the Innovation Hub Awards celebrated outstanding products and services within the industry. Among the notable winners were IRTA - Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries for Fresh Produce, Edencore for FV Industry, and Pallet Sure for Sustainability and Commitment Actions. The Best Stand Awards also recognized exhibitors for their creativity, originality, and sustainability practices, with unique accolades going to companies such as BayWa Global Produce, Fontestad, and BCC - Grupo Cajamar.

In the category of People's Choice, determined by over 6,000 votes, winners across various segments included Moguer Cuna de Platero, Veganic, and Ontime Corporate Union, among others. Additionally, the XV APAE Journalism Awards celebrated journalistic excellence, awarding the Fruit Attraction Journalism Award to Fructidor from France.

The Fruit Attraction 2025 event had an estimated economic impact of €407 million, helping sustain 3,066 jobs and reinforcing the significant economic and social role of both the Fruit Attraction and IFEMA MADRID in the region.

As the curtain falls on Fruit Attraction 2025, anticipation builds for its future, with next year’s event already scheduled to take place from October 6 to 8, 2026. For more information, visit IFEMA’s Fruit Attraction page.